This Date in Weekender History: A Korn/Rob Zombie feud?

Director Mel Gibson has a come-to-Jesus moment with Jim Caviezel in ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ which opened this weekend in 2004.

Highlights of Weekenders of five, 10 and 15 years ago:

Feb. 27, 2004

MOVIES

 Has it really been five years since all the furor over Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”? Starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, the film was both praised and reviled for its violence. “This is the most violent film I have ever seen,” wrote Roger Ebert, who nevertheless gave it four stars.

Also opening: A weird mix of the serious and the ridiculous. “The Fog of War,” Errol Morris’ Oscar-winning documentary, examined Vietnam through a series of interviews with former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. “Broken Lizard’s Club Dread” attempted a comedy-horror mix; “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” was a prequel that suffered from awful timing (like coming 20 years after the original).

MUSIC, EVENTS

 “The Producers”: Settling in for a long run in the Majestic, the touring version of the hit Broadway musical starred Alan Ruck as Leo Bloom, the nerdy accountant (played by Gene Wilder in the 1967 movie that inspired the musical) who accidentally devises a way to make a fortune on a Broadway flop. The Broadway version, which featured Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, was so popular, even Ruck couldn’t get in to see it. He even thought about calling his friend, Broderick, until he saw Broderick on Regis Philbin’s show telling his friends not to call about tickets. Not long after that, he was auditoning for Broderick’s role in the touring version.

 Johnny Cash tribute: One of the more unusual tributes to the legendary singer, who died in 2003, was this Sam’s Burger Joint Bash set up by local label Hairball 8 Records. The label had recently released “Dear Johnny…A Tribute to CASH,” which deployed psychobilly bands alongside real honky-tonkers. The tribute-concert lineup included Stevie Tombstone, Coffin Creeps and the Martyrs.

(File Photo)

Rob Zombie, promoting his Hellbilly Deluxe Tour, which came through San Antonio in 1998, was back in S.A. with Korn months later.

Feb. 26, 1999

MUSIC/EVENTS

 Korn/Rob Zombie: This may sound like an oldies act today, but 10 years ago, with the emergence of rap-rock and nu-metal, this Freeman Coliseum double bill was one of the hottest shows going.

We didn’t get a Korn interview, but ace free-lancer David Glessner set the stage by debunking the notion that the band and Zombie were feuding beause Zombie had backed out of Korn’s Family Values Tour in 1998. A Korn press release said it was all a misunderstanding between management, not ill will from the musicians.

Music writer Hector Saldaña DID get to talk with Zombie, who said he planned to top his Hellbilly Deluxe show that had played Sunken Garden the past October. “We have a lot more stuff,” he said. “Whatever we had the last time you saw us, there is more of it.” He referred to a giant rotating stage.

As for the alleged feud, he said, “Everything was blown out of proportion. I don’t know how it started. I still haven’t talked to those guys in person. The true story is, I left because of production problems. I didn’t have any hard feelings toward those guys or anybody else.”

 Tommy Bolin Tribute Texas Tour: The tribute to the former Deep Purple guitarist turned solo act stopped in at White Rabbit featuring ex-Deep Purple singer/guitarist Glenn Hughes and Bolin’s brother, Johnnie. Bolin epitomized the ’70s sex/drugs/rock ‘n’ roll mindset to the extreme, OD’ing in Miami in 1976. Hughes said Bolin had problems when Deep Purple played in the U.K. “There were a few hecklers because (former guitarist Ritchie) Blackmore is a god in the U.K.,” Hughes said.

 The Hanson Brothers: No, not the longhaired, “MMMBop” guys. These guys would send the musical Hansons crying to their mommies. We’re talking the brawling hockey players with the Buddy Holly glasses from “Slap Shot.” They were in town for an appearance at an Iguanas game and a postgame party at Polly Esther’s. Steve Carlson, who playes one of the brothers in the film, said they weren’t coming down just to make a cameo. “Oh, we’ll be in the starting lineup for sure,” he said. “Who’s the coach down there anyway? Just ask him. He know’s we’re starting.”

 “Eight Millimeter”: Look! There’s Joaquin Phoenix without a beard! He plays a porn-store clerk in this sleazy tale starring Nicolas Cage as a private detective tracking down the makers of an alleged snuff film.

Also opening: “Central Station,” a German film set in Brazil that was a foreign-film Oscar nominee; “The Other Sister,” starring Juliette Lewis as an independent-minded mentally challenged woman; and “200 Cigarettes,” a smoke-filled New Year’s Eve party.

And Roger Ebert wrote a tribute to his TV partner, Gene Siskel, who died Feb. 20. Strangely, in the “Siskel & Ebert” feature, Siskel cast two thumbs-up votes from the grave. He had already reviewed “Central Station,” which had opened weeks earlier in Chicago; and “Shadrach,” which never had a theatrical opening in S.A. but which appeared on video this week.

Feb. 25, 1994

MOVIES

 “Eight Seconds”: Originally titled “The Lane Frost Story,” this made-in-S.A. film starred Luke Perry as Frost, a rodeo star fatally gored by a unridable bull named Red Rock. Stephen Baldwin played Frost’s friend, Tuff Hedeman (a rodeo star in his own right). Cynthia Geary (“Northern Exposure”) played Frost’s wife; Renee Zellweger had a small role as a rodeo groupie. Despite being made in San Antonio, Floore’s Country Store and the Grandview Shopping Center (Callaghan at I-10) are the only recognizable sites.

Also opening: “Sugar Hill” (drug/mob flick starrring Wesley Snipes) and “Romeo Is Bleeding,” an eccentric drama starring Gary Oldman as a crooked cop and Juliette Lewis is as cocktail-waitress mistress.

MUSIC, EVENTS

 “Porgy and Bess”: A touring version of the pioneering American opera from the Gershwins has a brief stay in the Majestic Theatre. Senior Critic Mike Greenberg focused on the music, which includes “Summertime” and “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin.’ ”

 Joe Diffie played Bronco Bill’s with the hit “John Deere Green” on the charts. And Jerry Jeff Walker followed Diffie at Bronco Bill’s. And Little Jimmie Dickens, who gave us the 1965 hit “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” played the Farmer’s Daughter. He told the E-N’s Wiley Alexander he recorded the tune 30 minutes after hearing it for the first time. “It was the only record I ever made that was done on the first take.”

 I just spotted a headline that makes me proud/ashamed. For his Weekend Diner column (remember when we used to have dining copy in Weekender?), Ron Bechtol visited an unpretentious, Caribbean-oriented place called Orlando’s Cocina Latina. The headline: